Reporter's Diary

Press, 14 May 1979, Page 2

Reporter's Diary

On the up BILL STEVENSON, who climbed a million steps and won a place in the “Guinness Book of Records,.” is limbering up to climb some more, Mr Stevenson aged 61, clocked up his million by taking visitors up the 334 steps to the top of Big Ben. He has worked as a guide at the Palace of Westminster for the last 10 years and says he has trudged up Big Ben’s spiral staircase 3000 times. The General Election in Britain delayed his plans to reach two million: the visitors he takes up are guests of members of Parliament. I he written word HOW MUCH notice do the theatre-going public take of critics? Plenty, according to a producer who cut his losses at $70,000 and closed a play called “Forty Love” after only five performances at the Comedy Theatre in London. “We were crucified by the critics,” the producer, Paul Elliott, said. “The reviews were so bad we could not fight them.” Elliott said he had been encouraged by praise in the provinces to bring the show to London, but he would never again believe

provincial critics. The “Financial Times” called the play “a doomed menopausal farce,” and the “Daily Mail” said it was “dire and depressing.” But Elliott said it was the criticism in the “Guardian” which hurt most. “There is a moment in the evening of situation trash when the sadness of the theatre-trapped spectator assumes terrible, ironic proportions,” it said. “It was the reference to trash that did it,” said Elliott. Discretion LONDON commuters are evidently made of sterner stuff than their Continental counterparts. A man descending into the turbulent depths of the Oxford Street underground station during a rush-hour heard a German visitor warning his wife: “Don’t go down there, Liebling, it seems to be some kind of demonstration.” Top of the bill A RESTAURANT which advertised “the highest prices in town” with customers having to “pay through the nose” has closed after only a month at Brighton, Sussex. Dinner prices were up to $59.70 a head, and caviar $35.32 a portion.

Magic IF ONLY cricket administrations had the trick . . . Moscow has arranged for the Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies next year to be free of rain. It has become standard practice in the U.S.S.R. for rain clouds to be dispersed, over the forests of Siberia, with devices mounted in aircraft. Often the clouds are made to drop their rain on forest fires. The aircraft will be used to patrol the approaches to Moscow during the Olympics, so that if there is a threat of rain, the clouds will be unloaded well clear of the Luzhniki Stadium. Community comic A GRANT OF $5OO has been given to the Hawke’s Bay Community College by the Youth Initiatives Fund to assist in the cost of producing a comic, “You Don’t Know Whatcha Got Till It’s Gone.” The comic is designed to get attitudes and ideas across to young people. It is also being published to raise money for a twomonth tour of New Zealand by Keskidee, an 18member London-based West Indian ensemble. Denis O’Reilly, tutor in community development at the college, with a special responsibility with gang groups, wrote the story. Quentin Roper, a freelance graphic artist, illus-

trated it. The Ministry of Recreation and Sport, which administers the fund, said the publication was worth while and innovative. The fund provides finance to non-profit making groups comprising youth or involving young people. It helps projects of a social, cultural, or recreational nature which could also benefit the community. The title of the comic has a wry significance for Christchurch people. It is not yet available here. Blackout A YOUNG lady student came home from a defensive driving course the other evening. She was almost home before she realised her headlights were not on. Yes, please THE PARLIAMENTARY newsletter published by the Commonwealth. Parliamentary Association contains this: “The Premier of British Colombia, Mr William Bennett, has created a new portfolio — the Ministry of De-regulation. The Minister has a mandate of no more than two years to cut red tape in all other Ministries. He also has the task of reviewing all existing legislation and regulations, to ensure they are serving a useful purpose.” No lack of scope in New Zealand for a similar service.